System and method for temporarily reconfiguring a communications system to provide selection services

ABSTRACT

A system and method for temporarily reconfiguring a communications system to provide selected services are provided. A method for temporarily providing selected services by a cell of a communications system includes receiving a first command, changing an operating mode of the cell responsive to the first command, and indicating the operating mode to a first selected device and a first non-selected device. The cell operating in the operating mode serves the first selected device based on the first command, and the first non-selected device is a selected device prior to the change in the operating mode and is capable of accessing the cell before the cell changes the operating mode responsive to the first command and is not capable of accessing the cell after the cell changes the operating mode responsive to the first command.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/587,747, filed on Aug. 16, 2012, entitled “System and Method forTemporarily Reconfiguring a Communications System to Provide SelectedServices,” which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/815,088, filed on Jun. 14, 2010, entitled “System and Method forTemporarily Reconfiguring a Communications System to Provide SelectedServices”, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/218,792, filed on Jun. 19, 2009, entitled “Method and System forTemporarily Reconfiguring a Cell to Provide Selected Services,” whichapplications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a system and method wirelesscommunications, and more particularly to a system and method fortemporarily reconfiguring a communications system to provide selectedservices.

BACKGROUND

In a 4G wireless communications system such as a Third GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) compliantcommunications system, after a regular enhanced NodeB (eNB), which isalso known as a base station (BS), is deployed, the operator of thecommunications system may wish to optimize the cell coverage andperformance provided by the eNB equipment by conducting tests that onlyinvolve testing user equipments (UEs) and the eNB. The testing UEs canrecord testing data and thereby helps to identify potential problems.Therefore, the testing UE should be allowed to camp on, to access, andto receive services from the testing eNB (i.e., the eNB operating in atest mode of operation) as a regular UE camps on, accesses, and receivesservices from a regular eNB. After the testing and optimization iscomplete, the operator may turn the testing eNB to a regular eNB (i.e.,place the testing eNB into a normal mode of operation) in order toprovide commercial services.

During testing, it may be desirable to prevent a regular UE fromimpacting the testing or otherwise creating un-desirable network trafficat the testing eNB. For example, if an idle regular UE camps on thetesting eNB, when the communications system wants to page the idleregular UE due to an incoming call, the communications system willcreate undesirable paging traffic at the testing eNB. For anotherexample, if a neighboring eNB that is operating in a normal mode ofoperations tries to handover an active regular UE to the testing eNB,although the testing eNB is capable of rejecting the handover request,the handover attempt still creates un-desirable backhaul signaling forthe testing eNB.

Furthermore, in an emergency situation, it may be desirable to onlyallow certain emergency personnel to have access to a communicationsystem while the communication system automatically blocks allcommunications with all regular end users except when a regular end useroriginates an emergency, e.g., a 911, E911, or so on, call using his orher regular UE in the communication system. The exception is aimed toallow the victims of the emergency situation to call for help.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems are generally solved or circumvented, andtechnical advantages are generally achieved, by preferred embodiments ofthe present invention which provides a system and method for temporarilyreconfiguring a communications system to provide selected services.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, amethod for temporarily providing selected services by a cell of acommunications system is provided. The method includes receiving a firstcommand, changing an operating mode of the cell responsive to the firstcommand, and indicating the operating mode to a first selected deviceand a first non-selected device. The cell operating in the operatingmode serves the first selected device based on the first command, andthe first non-selected device is a selected device prior to the changein the operating mode and is capable of accessing the cell before thecell changes the operating mode responsive to the first command and isnot capable of accessing the cell after the cell changes the operatingmode responsive to the first command.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a method for operations by a communications device isprovided. The method includes determining if a communications controlleris broadcasting an operating mode indicator, continuing to access thecommunications controller if the communications controller is notbroadcasting the operating mode indicator or in response to determiningthat the operating mode indicator indicates that the communicationsdevice is a selected communications device, and searching for analternate communications controller if the communications controller isbroadcasting the operating mode indicator and if the operating modeindicator indicates that the communications device is a non-selectedcommunications device. The operating mode indicator indicates selectedcommunications devices and non-selected communications devices.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a communications controller is provided. The communicationscontroller includes a receiver to be coupled to a receive antenna, atransmitter to be coupled to a transmit antenna, a memory, and acontroller coupled to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to thememory. The receiver receives signals detected by the receive antenna,the transmitter transmits signals with the transmit antenna, and thememory stores a closed subscriber group (CSG) identifier-to-operatingmode map, and a CSG identifier. The controller processes an operatingmode command, and switches an operating mode based on the operating modecommand.

An advantage of an embodiment is that a communications system may bededicated for exclusive use in test and/or emergency situations whilestill providing the ability to support users placing emergency callswithout requiring significant signaling overhead or changes to technicalstandards.

A further advantage of an embodiment is that the exclusivity of theusage of the communications system can readily and quickly be turned onor off.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the embodiments that follow may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the embodiments will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basisfor modifying or designing other structures or processes for carryingout the same purposes of the present invention. It should also berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructionsdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communications system;

FIG. 2 a is a diagram of an eNB;

FIG. 2 b is a diagram of a high-level view of a communications system;

FIG. 3 a is a diagram of a communications system, wherein thecommunications system includes an eNB operating in a normal operatingmode;

FIG. 3 b is a diagram of a communications system, wherein thecommunications system includes an eNB operating in a testing mode;

FIG. 3 c is a diagram of a communications system, wherein thecommunications system includes an eNB operating in a testing mode and isserving a normal UE making an emergency call;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of eNB operations in serving UEs; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of UE operations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of the presently preferred embodiments arediscussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that thepresent invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that canbe embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specificembodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to makeand use the invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention will be described with respect to preferredembodiments in a specific context, namely a 3GPP LTE compliantcommunications system supporting exclusive test and/or emergency use.The invention may also be applied, however, to other communicationssystems, such as those that are 3GPP LTE-Advanced, WiMAX, or so forth,compliant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a communications system 100. Communications system100 includes an eNB 105 serving a number of UEs. For reasons, such astesting and/or emergency situations, communications system 100 may wishto provide service to only a subset of UEs that are operating within itscoverage area and would normally be served by eNB 105. For example, UE110 (labeled UE*) may be a test UE that may be used to test theoperation of communications system 100 or UE 110 may be an emergencyservices UE used by a fireman helping to put out a fire. Therefore, whencommunications system 100 is in a test mode or an emergency mode, UE 110should be served by eNB 105.

Additionally, UE 112 (labeled UE**) may be a normal UE being used by itsuser to make an emergency call, e.g., 911, E911, or so on. Generally,regulations require that UEs being used to make an emergency call beallowed service independent of them having authorization to accesscommunications system 100. Therefore, UE 112 should be served by eNB105, however, only while it is being used to make an emergency call.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are UE 114 and UE 116 (each labeled UE). UE 114 andUE 116 may be normal UEs that are not involved in making an emergencycall. Therefore, communications system 100 does not serve UE 114 and UE116. In order to obtain service, UE 114 and UE 116 may need to searchelsewhere for service.

According to an embodiment, it may be desired to prevent eNB camping,call setup, and incoming handovers for all but a selected group of UEs(also referred to as selected UEs), which may include testing UEs,emergency UEs, UEs owned and/or operated by a particular company,service, or user, and so forth. A primary intention may be to allow onlythe selected group of UEs to access a communications system during aspecified period. For example, during an optimization phase for acommunications system, only testing UEs may be allowed access to thecommunications system. Other UEs (non-testing UEs) may not be served.

UEs that are not selected UEs (also referred to as non-selected UEs) mayalso not be served. For example, non-testing UEs may not be served sincetheir presence in the communication system may have a negative impact onthe testing being performed and the resulting test results. An exceptionto limiting access to only the selected group of UEs may be a UE that isa non-selected UE being used to make an emergency call. Typically,governmental regulations require that service be provided to compatibleUEs that are attempting to make an emergency call. Therefore, such UEsmay be served and the test results may be adjusted due to the presenceof the non-selected UEs making emergency calls and/or the testing may berepeated.

FIG. 2 a illustrates an eNB 200. eNB 200 may be representative of an eNBof a communications system. eNB 200 may control communications to UEsserved by eNB 200. Additionally, eNB 200 may control access to acommunications system that includes eNB 200 to UEs depending on whetheror not the UEs are selected UEs or non-selected UEs and a particularoperating mode of eNB 200. As an example, if eNB 200 is in a testingmode, then eNB 200 may only allow service to UEs that are testing UEs.Furthermore, if eNB 200 is in an emergency mode, then eNB 200 may onlyallow service to UEs that are emergency UEs, i.e., UEs used by emergencypersonnel. However, at any time, eNB 200 may allow service to anon-selected UE if the non-selected UE is attempting to make anemergency call.

eNB 200 may have at least one antenna 202. Antenna 202 may serve as botha transmit antenna and a receive antenna. Alternatively, eNB 200 mayhave separate transmit and receive antennas. eNB 200 may also have awireline connection, such as a backhaul connection, to other networkcomponents, such as other eNBs, serving gateways (S-GWs), mobilitymanagement entities (MMEs), and so forth. Coupled to antenna 202 may bea transmitter 205 used to transmit information over the air usingantenna 202. Transmitter circuitry 207 coupled to transmitter 205 mayprovide signal processing for information being transmitted. Examples ofsignal processing provided by transmitter circuitry 207 may includefiltering, amplifying, modulating, error encoding, parallel-to-serialconverting, interleaving, bit puncturing, and so forth.

Also coupled to antenna 202 may be a receiver 210 used to receiveinformation detected by antenna 202. Receiver circuitry 212 coupled toreceiver 210 may provide signal processing for received information.Examples of signal processing provided by receiver circuitry 212 mayinclude filtering, amplifying, demodulating, error detecting andcorrecting, serial-to-parallel converting, de-interleaving, and so on.As used herein, transmitter 205 and receiver 210 may be a wirelesstransmitter and receiver as well as a wireline transmitter and receiver.

As used herein, receiver and transmitter may apply to both wireless andwireline receivers and transmitters. Therefore, the use of receiverand/or transmitter should not be construed as being limiting to eitherthe scope or spirit of the embodiments.

A controller 215 may be a processing unit responsible for executingapplications and programs, controlling operations of various componentsof eNB 200, processing and granting transmission requests, handovers,and so on from UEs being served by or attempting to get service from eNB200, and so forth. As discussed previously, eNB 200 may serve UEs basedon their membership in a select group of UEs and/or an operating mode ofeNB 200, which may be set by a command received by eNB 200. The commandto set the operating mode of eNB 200 may be provided to eNB 200 by anoperation and maintenance (OAM) system that is a part of thecommunications system. To support controller 215 in serving UEs, eNB 200includes a memory 220 and message generate unit 230.

Memory 220 may be used to store information and applications.Furthermore, memory 220 may be used to store a closed subscriber groupidentifier (CSG ID) in a CSG ID store 225 that may indicate a currentCSG (if any) being served by eNB 200. CSG ID may be a number value, atext string, or an alphanumeric string. For example, if eNB 200 is in anoperating mode where it is serving all compatible UEs, then eNB 200 maynot have a CSG ID. While if eNB 200 is only serving testing UEs, thenCSG ID store 225 may store a value corresponding to a CSG ID for testingUEs. Similarly, if eNB 200 is only serving emergency UEs, then CSG IDstore 225 may store a value corresponding to a CSG ID for emergency UEs.

Memory 220 may also store a cell identifier (CELL ID) in a CELL ID store227. CELL ID store 227 may be used to store an identifier correspondingto a cell of eNB 200. According to an embodiment, CELL ID store 227 maybe a unique identifier for the cell(s) of eNB 200 within a limited area(i.e., a CELL ID may not necessarily be unique and same CELL ID may bere-used by other eNBs in other geographic areas) and may or may notchange depending on the operating mode of eNB 200. Furthermore, the CELLID may fall within a first range of CELL IDs, indicating that eNB 200 isa femto cell. Alternatively, the CELL ID may fall within a second rangeof CELL IDs, indicating that eNB 200 is not a femto cell.

Memory 220 may also have a CSG map 229 that may store multiple CSG IDsfor different modes and/or groups of selected UEs. For example, CSG map229 may store a CSG ID for a number of testing UE groups, emergency UEgroups, user class groups, and so forth. Then, based on a command fromthe OAM system, an appropriate CSG ID may be selected from CSG map 229.As an example, in a fire emergency, a CSG ID for a local fire departmentand a local police department may be selected. Alternatively, in a verylarge fire emergency, a CSG ID for all fire departments and policedepartments may be selected.

Message generate unit 230 may be used to generate messages that containa CSG indicator. According to an embodiment, if the current operatingmode of the eNB is to serve only the UEs of a closed subscriber group,the CSG indicator will be set to “True” (or a specified valuerepresenting a logical true), otherwise it will be set to “False” (or aspecified value representing a logical false). If the CSG indicator isset to “True”, the message generated by message generate unit 230 mayfurther include CSG ID of the current CSG being served by eNB 200.Message generate unit 230 may include the CSG ID in a generic broadcastmessage transmitted to all UEs within an operating area of eNB 200. TheCSG ID may be transmitted in its own broadcast message or it may beincluded in a broadcast message transmitted with other information, suchas a pilot signal, a paging channel, or so on.

Message generate unit 230 may also include in an additional messageindicating the CELL ID of eNB 200. The additional message may betransmitted on a channel different from the message indicating thecurrent operating mode of the eNB (i.e., the message containing the CSGindicator and potentially the CSG ID).

Controller 215 may include a command processor 235 which may be used toprocess commands received from the OAM system. As an example, eNB 200may receive a command to enter a testing mode from the OAM system.Command processor 235 may process the command and perform operationsneeded to place eNB 200 into the testing mode. Command processor 235 mayset a MODE flag 237 that may indicate an operating mode of eNB 200 tothe testing mode and initiate an operating mode switch in mode switchunit 239. Command processor 235 may select an appropriate CSG ID fromCSG map 229 based on the command provided by the OAM system. In anotherembodiment, the OAM system may provide, in the command, the CSG IDassociated with the particular mode that the OAM system has commandedeNB 200 to be placed into.

Mode switch unit 239 may initiate message generate unit 230 to broadcastthe CSG ID to indicate the CSG being served by eNB 200. Mode switch unit239 may also store the selected CSG ID in CSG ID store 225.

FIG. 2 b illustrates a high-level view of a communications system 250.Communications system 250 includes an eNB 255 capable of serving aplurality of UEs, such as UE 260 and UE 261. Communications system 250also includes OAM system 265 that may be used to control the operatingmode of eNB 255. Through controlling the operating mode of eNB 255, OAMsystem 265 may determine which UEs eNB 255 may serve, for example.

An eNB database 270 may be used to store information such as anoperating mode, location, and so forth, of the eNB in communicationssystem 250, while an eNB status control unit 275 may be used to controlthe operating mode of the eNBs in communications system 250. eNB statuscontrol unit 275 may be used to generate commands that may be providedto the eNBs to set the operating mode of the eNBs. For example, eNBstatus control unit 275 may determine that eNB 255 may be set to operatein a testing mode and may send an appropriate command to eNB 255 tocause eNB 255 to switch to the testing mode.

eNB status control unit 275 may access eNB database 270 to determine theoperating modes of the eNBs. For example, OAM system 265 may determinethat eNB 255 is located near a large fire and may set the operating modeof eNB 255 to the emergency mode so that only emergency UEs may getservice from eNB 255. By restricting eNB 255 to only emergency UEs andUEs making emergency calls, eNB 255 may have sufficient resources toserve the emergency UEs.

Although the discussion focuses on eNB 200 and eNB 255 being macro-celleNBs with large service areas and capable of supporting a large numberof UEs, the embodiments described herein may be operable to any form ofeNB, including small scale femto-cell and micro-cell eNBs. Therefore,the discussion of macro-cell eNBs should not be construed as beinglimiting to either the scope or the spirit of the embodiments.

For discussion purposes, assume that there is a fire in a first buildingand there is a femto-cell eNB owned and operated by a subscriber in asecond building located adjacent to the first building. OAM system 265may be able to determine that the femto-cell eNB is adjacent to thefirst building and provides good coverage over the first building. OAMsystem 265 may send a command to the femto-cell eNB to switch thefemto-cell eNB from its current operating mode to an emergency mode toprovide service to UEs of a local fire department fighting the fire.Usually, the femto-cell eNB may be configured to serve only UEsregistered to the owner of the femto-cell eNB. However, it may bepossible, through a service agreement with the owner, for the serviceprovider to temporarily switch the operating mode of the femto-cell eNBwhile there is a fire emergency nearby.

According to 3GPP LTE specifications, if an eNB is a femto-cell eNB,which is also known as the home eNB or HeNB, the home eNB can beconfigured with an home eNB name, which is a text string. The home eNBname may be broadcasted, for example in the systeminformationblocktype9message in LTE, and thereby may be displayed on a screen on a UE so asto help the end user to recognize a particular femto-cell eNB. Accordingto another embodiment, when the operator temporarily switches theoperating mode of the femto-cell eNB of a consumer in order to serve alocal fire department, the operator may change the home eNB name of thefemto-cell eNB to a text string that may be displayed on the screen ofthe owner's UE so as to avoid the owner's complaint about losingservices.

FIG. 3 a illustrates a communications system 300, wherein communicationssystem 300 includes an eNB 305 operating in a normal operating mode.When eNB 305 is operating in the normal operating, eNB 305 may supportall compatible and authorized UEs (up to a maximum number of supportableUEs). The UEs supported by eNB 305 may include testing UEs (such as UE310), normal UEs making emergency calls (such as UE 315), and normal UEs(such as UE 320 and UE 322).

FIG. 3 b illustrates communications system 300, wherein communicationssystem 300 includes eNB 305 operating in a testing mode. While operatingin the testing mode, eNB 305 may not serve UEs that are not selectedUEs, i.e., eNB 305 may not serve non-testing UEs. Therefore, only UE 310is served by eNB 305. UE 315, which may be a normal UE that is notmaking an emergency call, is also not served by eNB 305. Similarly, UE320 and UE 322 are not served by eNB 305.

FIG. 3 c illustrates communications system 300, wherein communicationssystem 300 includes eNB 305 operating in a testing mode and is serving anormal UE making an emergency call. While operating in the testing mode,eNB 305 may not serve UEs that are not selected UEs, i.e., eNB 305 maynot serve non-testing UEs. Therefore, only UE 310 is served by eNB 305.However, UE 315, which may be a normal UE, is making an emergency calland may then be served by eNB 305. Once again, UE 320 and UE 322 are notserved by eNB 305.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of eNB operations 400 in serving UEs.eNB operations 400 may be indicative of operations occurring in an eNB,such as eNB 200, that is serving UEs, wherein the eNB may serve allcompatible and authorized UEs or selected UEs and UEs making emergencycalls. eNB operations 400 may occur while the eNB is serving UEs.

eNB operations 400 may begin with the eNB performing a check todetermine if it is operating in a normal mode (block 405). If the eNB isoperating in a normal mode, then the eNB may indicate that it isoperating in the normal mode by broadcasting a CSG indicator with a“False” value (block 407). Furthermore, the eNB may not broadcast a CSGID. According to an alternative embodiment, the eNB may broadcast a CSGID set to a specified value to indicate that it is operating in thenormal mode. In addition to broadcasting the CSG indicator, the eNB maybroadcast, in another message, a CELL ID, which may be used by UEs incell selection. Furthermore, when the broadcasted CSG indicatorindicates “False”, the broadcasted Cell ID is within the second range ofCELL ID values indicating that the eNB is not a femto cell.

When receiving such a broadcasted CSG indicator, all compatible andauthorized UEs may be part of the selected UEs that can be served. Thenthe eNB serves all selected UEs (block 410). Serving the UEs may includeallowing the UEs to camp with the eNB, allowing call setups, allowinghandovers, and so forth.

In general, selected UEs may vary depending upon the mode of the eNB.For example, if the eNB is operating in the normal mode, then allcompatible UEs may be selected UEs, as long as they may be authenticatedfor access to the communications system. While, if the eNB is operatingin a restricted mode, then selected UEs may be a subset of allcompatible UEs. As an example, if the eNB is operating in a testingmode, then selected UEs may comprise testing UEs corresponding to aparticular testing being performed. Similarly, if the eNB is operatingin an emergency mode, then selected UEs may comprise emergency UEscorresponding to the particular emergency, e.g., if the emergency is afire emergency, then the selected UEs may be UEs of the local firedepartment, while if the emergency is a police emergency, then theselected UEs may be UEs of the local police department, and so forth.

The eNB may perform a check to determine if it has received a command,from an OAM system, for example, to switch to a restricted mode (block415). As discussed previously, a command from the OAM system may causethe eNB to switch from the normal mode to a restricted mode wherein onlyselected UEs may be served (along with compatible and authorized UEsmaking emergency calls) with the selected UEs being based on therestricted mode. Examples of restricted modes may include testing mode,emergency mode, owner mode (wherein only UEs owned by a specified ownerare served), class mode (wherein only UEs of a specified class areserved), and so forth.

The eNB may also perform a check to determine if it has received acommand, also from the OAM system, for example, to switch to the normalmode (block 420). The command to switch to the normal mode from therestricted mode may be similar to a command to switch from the normalmode to the restricted mode. If the eNB receives such a command, the eNBmay switch to the normal mode (block 425) and return to block 407. TheeNB may indicate that it has switched back to the normal mode bybroadcasting the CSG indicator with a “False” value and with or withoutbroadcasting the CSG ID (block 407), which allows all compatible andauthorized UEs service. The eNB may also broadcast its CELL ID with avalue within the second range of CELL IDs in a separate message.

If the eNB is not operating in the normal mode (block 405), then eNB maybe operating in a restricted mode. The eNB may indicate that it isoperating in a restricted mode by broadcasting the CSG indicator with a“True” value and the CSG ID corresponding to the selected UEs that it isserving (block 430). In addition, the eNB may broadcast its CELL ID witha value within the first range of CELL IDs in a separate message. As anexample, if the eNB is operating in a testing mode, then the eNB mayindicate that it is operating in the testing mode by transmitting theCSG indicator with a “True” value and a CSG ID corresponding to selectedUEs that are testing UEs. Similarly, if the eNB is operating in anemergency mode, the eNB may indicate that it is operating in theemergency mode by transmitting the CSG indicator with a “True” value anda CSG ID corresponding to selected UEs that are emergency UEs.

Even while operating in a restricted mode, the eNB may need to allow UEsattempting to make an emergency call service. The eNB may perform acheck to determine if there is a UE that is not a selected UE, which isattempting to make an emergency call (block 435). If there is such a UE,the eNB may serve the UE and allow the emergency call to be served(block 440). The eNB may return to block 410 to allow all selected UEs,which happens to be the selected UEs corresponding to the restrictedmode or service.

If the eNB has received a command to switch to the restricted mode(block 415), then the eNB may switch to the restricted mode as indicatedby the command (block 445) and indicate to the UEs that it is operatingin the restricted mode by broadcasting the CSG indicator with a “True”value and a CSG ID corresponding to the restricted mode (block 430).

If the eNB does not receive either a command to switch to the restrictedmode (block 415) or a command to switch to the normal mode (block 420),the eNB may return to block 405.

eNB operations 400 may continue until the eNB has been reset, powereddown, or otherwise removed from service. Alternatively, eNB operations400 may continue until the eNB is placed in a mode where it does notswitch between different modes dependent on a command received from theOAM system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of UE operations 500. UE operations500 may be indicative of operations taking place at a UE as the UEattempts to obtain service from an eNB and potentially make an emergencycall. UE operations 500 may occur while the UE is in a normal operatingmode and while the UE detects at least one eNB that may be capable ofserving the UE.

UE operations 500 may begin with the UE performing a check to determineif the eNB is broadcasting a restricted mode indicator (block 505), e.g.if the broadcasted CSG indicator is “True” or not. According to anembodiment, the eNB may broadcast a CSG indicator with a “True” valueand a CSG ID when it is operating in a restricted mode. Therefore, theUE may be able to determine if the eNB is operating in a restricted modeif it detects that the eNB is broadcasting the CSG indicator with a“True” value.

If the eNB is not operating in a restricted mode, then the UE maycontinue with its normal operations, which may include camping on theeNB, attempting to setup a call (emergency or otherwise), participatingin a handover, and so forth (block 510). The UE may return to block 505to detect additional broadcasts from the eNB.

If the UE detects that the eNB is operating in a restricted mode, thenthe UE may perform another check to determine if it is a member of theCSG as indicated by the CSG ID broadcast by the eNB (block 515). Ingeneral, the UE may have stored in its memory, normally a read-onlymemory, the CSG or CSGs of which it is a member. If the UE is a memberof the CSG as indicated by the CSG ID, then the UE may continue normaloperations (block 510).

However, if the UE is not a member of the CSG as indicated by the CSG IDbroadcasted by the current eNB, then the UE may perform cell selectionin order to find service at an alternate cell (eNB) (block 520). The UEmay perform a check to determine if it has been able to find analternate cell (block 525). If the UE has been able to find an alternatecell, then the UE may initiate normal operations with the alternate cell(block 540) and UE operations 500 may then terminate. However, if the UEhas not been able to find an alternate cell, then the UE may perform acheck to determine if the UE needs to place an emergency call (block530). If yes, the UE may go ahead and place the emergency call using thecurrent eNB (block 535). If no or after the UE finishes the emergencycall, the UE may return to block 520 to continue its search for analternative cell where it may receive service.

Although the discussion presented above focuses on a switching theoperating mode of an entirety of available bandwidth when the eNBswitches operating modes, it may be possible that the eNB switches onlya portion of the available bandwidth. As an example, if the eNB controlsnetwork resources corresponding to 20 MHz of bandwidth, it may bepossible for the eNB to make 10 MHz of the bandwidth available to anycompatible UE, while operating in a restricted mode in the remaining 10MHz of bandwidth allowing access only to selected UEs corresponding tothe restricted mode.

The available bandwidth may also be partitioned into multiple portions.For example, the available bandwidth may be partitioned into threeportions, with a first portion allowing access to all compatible UEs(i.e., a normal mode), a second portion allowing access to selectedfirst UEs (i.e, a first restricted mode), and a third portion allowingaccess to selected second UEs (i.e., a second restricted mode).

Advantageous features of embodiments of the invention may include: Amethod for temporarily providing selected services by reconfiguring awireless communication cell, comprising: changing a CSG status of thecell upon a command; indicating the changing of the CSG status of thecell to a selected UE and a non-selected UE causing the non-selected UEto cease its access of a non-selected service from the cell. The methodcould further include, providing services comprise of providing servicesto a selected UE. The method could further include, providing servicescomprise of providing a selected service to a non-selected UE. Themethod could further include, changing of the CSG status of the cellfurther comprises of changing a physical cell identity of the cell. Themethod could further include, changing of the CSG status of the cellfurther comprises of changing a closed subscriber group indicator of thecell. The method could further include, changing of the CSG status ofthe cell further comprises of changing a closed subscriber groupidentity of the cell. The method could further include, changing the CSGstatus of the cell back to the original state upon another command; andindicating the changing of the CSG status of the cell back to theoriginal state to the UE causing the non-selected UE to resume itsaccess of services from the cell.

Advantageous features of embodiments of the invention may include: AnOperation and Maintenance (OAM) system, comprising: means to communicatewith a cell; means to change one or more parameters at the cell causingthe cell to provide selected services; and means to change theparameters back causing the cell to provide regular services.

Advantageous features of embodiments of the invention may include: Anemergency communication system, compromising: a wireless communicationcell that provides regular services under a normal circumstance and iscapable to provide selected services under such a command; an operationand maintenance system that include means to change one or moreparameters at the cell causing the cell to provide services to selectedUEs and to provide selected services to non-selected UEs; and a UEincluding means to identify the UE as a selected UE. The method couldfurther include, means to locate an emergency situation; and means toidentify a cell that is close to the emergency situation and is capableto provide selected services

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to belimited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine,manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps describedin the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantiallythe same function or achieve substantially the same result as thecorresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according tothe present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended toinclude within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communications controller comprising: areceiver configured to be coupled to a receive antenna and to receivesignals detected by the receive antenna; a transmitter configured to becoupled to a transmit antenna and to transmit signals via the transmitantenna; a memory configured to store a closed subscriber group (CSG)identifier-to-operating mode map and a CSG identifier; and a controllercoupled to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to the memory, thecontroller configured to process an operating mode command, and toswitch an operating mode in accordance with the operating mode command.2. The communications controller of claim 1, wherein the controllercomprises: a command processor configured to process the operating modecommand; and a mode switch unit coupled to the command processor, themode switch unit configured to initiate a switch in the operating modein accordance with the operating mode command.
 3. The communicationscontroller of claim 2, further comprising a message generate unitcoupled to the controller, the message generate unit configured toidentify a CSG identifier (ID) or a CSG indicator value associated withthe operating mode.
 4. The communications controller of claim 3, whereinthe message includes the CSG ID or the CSG indicator value.
 5. Thecommunications controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to allow a communications device to make a connection to anemergency service independent of the operating mode of thecommunications controller.
 6. A communications controller comprising: aprocessor; and a computer readable storage medium storing programmingfor execution by the processor, the programming including instructionsto: process an operating mode command; switch an operating mode to aswitched operating mode in accordance with the operating mode command;and transmit a message including a closed subscriber group (CSG)indicator in accordance with the switched operating mode.
 7. Thecommunications controller of claim 6, wherein the programming furtherincludes an instruction to: determine a CSG identifier (ID) or a CSGindicator value in accordance with the operating mode command.
 8. Thecommunications controller of claim 7, wherein the CSG ID is included inthe message.
 9. The communications controller of claim 7, wherein theCSG indicator value is included in the message.
 10. The communicationscontroller of claim 6, wherein the programming further includes aninstruction to: allow a communications device to make a connection to anemergency service independent of the operating mode of thecommunications controller.